Boynton Festival Offers Family Fun

Southern-style cooking and music of almost every kind will welcome residents to the fifth annual Great American Love Affair, which opens Friday at the Civic Center.

About 40,000 to 50,000 people are expected to attend.

The fifth annual G.A.L.A., sponsored by the city of Boynton Beach and the Greater Boynton Beach Chamber of Commerce, opens Friday at noon at the Boynton Beach Civic Center on Ocean Avenue at Seacrest Boulevard. It is free and open to the public. The three-day event ends at 6 p.m. Sunday.

The Shufflin Shoe Cloggers will show their latest dance steps while karate instructor Richard Ross will demonstrate the martial arts.

The children will be entertained at Kids Korner, where they will make Greek masks, scratch-art, yarn-wrap bracelets, honeycomb creatures, sand painting and a host of other activities. These Kid Korner art lessons will be supervised for children 3 to 14.

``That means moms and dads can tour the grounds without worrying about expensive pottery in the hands of youngsters,`` said GALA co-chairman Eleanor Wollenweber.

More than 140 local and out-of-town artists will be exhibiting their work. They will compete for $7,000, including a $350 first prize in each of seven categories.

More than 70 local businesses, from health care and financial services to media and real estate, will have displays.

``The addition of entertainment as part of the three-day affair makes it enjoyable for the entire family,`` Wollenweber said.

``The parents can take in the art and afterwards let the kids have fun,`` she said.

The GALA will be held at the Civic Center complex, on the southeast corner of Ocean Avenue and Seacrest Boulevard.

To get there from Interstate 95, exit at Boynton Beach Boulevard. Head east on Boynton Beach Boulevard to Seacrest Boulevard. Turn right on Seacrest and travel two blocks to Ocean Avenue.

Coming from Federal Highway (U.S. 1), turn west on Ocean Avenue. Ocean Avenue is midway between Woolbright Road and Boynton Beach Boulevard. The Boynton Beach G.A.L.A. will be about three blocks from Federal Highway.

Parking is available in various lots around the municipal complex, including a special handicapped parking lot on the northeast corner of Seacrest and Ocean.

ENTERTAINMENT SCHEDULE

Friday

noon-12:30 p.m. Galaxy School Starbrights, Stage

12:30-1 p.m. Congress Ringers-Hand Bell Choir, Auditorium (DG)

1-2 p.m. Claude Kelly & His Swinging Big Band, Stage

(Co-sponsored by Music Performance Trust Funds & Local 806 AF of M and Film Funds Trust Funds)

2:30-3 p.m. Reflections Hair Designers, Auditorium

3-3:30 p.m. Congress Community Cougar Band, Stage

3:30-4 p.m. Atlantic High School Eagle-aires, Auditorium

4-6 p.m. Magumba (Island Music), Stage

Saturday

10-10:30 a.m. Gold Coast Choralaires, Auditorium

10:30-11:30 a.m. Hammerhead (Jazz Band), Stage

11:30 a.m.-noon Santaluces Chief-ettes, Auditorium

noon-5 p.m. Buttons the Clown, Stroll.

1-4 p.m. Fantasy Theatre Factory, Stroll.

(Jugglers, unicyclist, mime, magic and clowns)

1:30-3 p.m. Vic Knight`s Big Band, Stage

(Co-sponsored by Music Performance Trust Funds & Local 806 AF of M and Film Funds Trust Funds).